After the relative success of the first World Heroesof the series, ADK decides to put a second stone to the construction less than a year later, with this second episode. The editor went largely over the one-hundred megs step here, as WH2 weighs almost twice heavier than its ancestor, with 146
Mb. New characters, new backgrounds, new moves... Has it really changed and corrected the few flaws of its predecessor? After a short introduction, we come to the character selection screen.
And there, there's a first nice surprise: now, the game packs no less than fourteen selectable fighters! It will stand for a few months, as the biggest roster in fighting games. In fact, Street
Fighter II Turbo,Mortal KombatandFatal Fury 2were behind with twelve characters for the first, seven and eight for the others! Versus mode is also well thought
out - for the time - as the players can change their warriors, even after a victory.

Shura and Dragon confront Muay Thaï and Kung Fu.

Good ideas were retained from the ancestor, and the game still offers bonus stages and the death match. This latter has been completely redesigned and improved. Indeed, now in this mode, the two
fighters have a bar of common life. Inflict damage to the opponent reduces its life and extends yours: Now, it's really is a duel to the death! In addition, reducing the opponent's life to zero
does not mean winning... The opponent still has the opportunity to get up, only if he punches the stick and buttons fast enough! And one can get up several times, depending on the intensity and
speed on the stick. Another great improvement: the death match arenas are more numerous and varied than before: Skinhead, Exploding Spikes, Metal Mesh, etc... a really different way to play this
time, considerably far from the traditional versus with two winnong rounds. World Heroes 2 looks very good, as the realization was also leveled up: more characters, so more
backgrounds. Those are varied, beautiful and colorful; the draw is not the finest ever seen, but the overall design is beautiful.

Graphics have evolved significantly since World Heroes.

The animation has been greatly improved too, we no longer feel like fighting on the moon! Characters' moves are now fluid, flexible and fast enough, there's nothing wrong anymore with our heroes
animations. The sprites were partially redesigned, and the character design was re-drawn with better inspiration. Speaking about the sound part, we are granted new impact noises, way more vocals
than before, and a bunch of new catchy themes, but also "not extraordinary" ones. Anyway, the realization still stands a very high level for a 1993 game. The gameplay has not
changed much, taking the simple basics of World Heroes and making some improvements: more special moves, more combos, more game mechanics... but it remains that the three-button system could
have been improved (in a four-button one, maybe...?). C button is used only to throw, and it's not a model of ergonomy (Street Fighter IV, if you hear me ...) and given the broad range of moves
for each character, the game wuld really have deserved a four-buttons interface. That said, the controls are easy and fast to learn, still damn reminding SFII.

With Death Match and Normal Mode, the number of stages is high.

Other news, when pressing A+B simultaneously, some characters trigger a remote attack. The game also features a great counter system for throws and projectiles. If you put your guard at the last
second, before receiving a fireball or other projectile, you return the attack to the sender. If he does the same, he returns again ... and so on! Fun idea, opening some nice options in combat.
For the throws, pressing the right button in a precise timing when you're catch to be thrown will have your character counter-catching, in order to throw the one who wanted to throw you! These
are great features, that give a boost to WH2 gameplay. Very nice realization, varied and interesting gameplay with some original features, fourteen
characters' roster: World Heroes 2 is an excellent game, probably the best of the saga. People will still blame the lack of charisma or interest of some fighters and a lack of depth about
the gameplay. Competition is surely more technical, just watch Fatal Fury Special orSuper Street Fighter IIto convince yourself... That said, the game is still fun and taking. Those who knew it in its glory years know what I
mean; most young players will probably will go their way over this very cool 'old-school' fighting game.

GRAPHICS

92%

All new, the backgrounds are beautiful and varied. Sprites, big sized, are finely drawn.

ANIMATION

87%

Completely re-designed, the animation offers more luidity and a faster-paced action than in the first
episode.

SOUND

81%

Not particularly original, the soundtrack is still sympathic, the effects are good and vocals numerous.

REPLAY VALUE

93%

Fourteen selectable characters and two differents modes (normal and death), that's good. There are two bosses to defeat, and it
will take a certain time to clear the game with every fighter! Two-players VS mode is providing a lot of fun either.

GAMEPLAY

85%

Without reaching heights of technicality, WH2 is filled with good ideas and fun, promising a lot of good
times.

NEOGEOKULT

RATE

89%

An excellent VS fighting game, having its very own personality, featuring cool and fun content!

VALUE FOR MONEY

Less than 30 euros for a japanese one, it's a great deal that i highly recommand! The best WH from the series, without a doubt.